Revenge Run After Action Report

2010 marks the success of the first Revenge Run in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Complete with a two-hour ferry ride, camping and the usual party mayhem, it shows what a couple people with a good plan can pull off in their own backyard. Grass roots events like this are the sort of stuff we here at Chop Cult are into and we watched with pride as members Tim and Rusty Knuckles put this thing together. When it was all said and done, nearly 80 riders showed up and only a few roadside fixes were required to keep things running smoothly. We fired off a few questions to Tim while the funk was still fresh and compiled his answers and photos here.

First Annual Revenge Run

2010 marks the success of the first Revenge Run in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Complete with a two-hour ferry ride, camping and the usual party mayhem, it shows what a couple people with a good plan can pull off in their own backyard. Grass roots events like this are the sort of stuff we here at Chop Cult are into and we watched with pride as members Tim and Rusty Knuckles put this thing together. When it was all said and done, nearly 80 riders showed up and only one spent a little time in a chase truck (but was back on the road the next day). A few roadside fixes of course, but no run with old iron would be complete without a few of those. We fired off a few questions to Tim about the run while the funk was still fresh and compiled his answers and photos here.

Who?

Well that’s a tricky question. You mean the two jack asses that put the run on? That’d be me and Ralph (aka Rusty Knuckles). Or do you mean who made it happen? That’d be everyone who sponsored the event and helped us get the word out, and everyone who went on the run and made it as amazing as it was. Or do you mean who thought of it? That’s trickier still. The idea originated on the Chop Cult–a suggestion was made that someone in NC put a run together. For whatever reason Ralph and I figured we’d take the torch and run with it. That or we were just the suckers that convinced themselves we could make things move.

What?

A run. The Revenge Run. Not a mission but a ride. A chance to do what we all love to do–ride our motorbikes. After all when you’re riding your bike it doesn’t matter if it’s the raddest period-correct mochine or the meekest 250cc screamer. Moving on two wheels is what makes this shit fun. Our idea was to put together a run where we could get together with old friends and meet new ones and ride our bikes, whatever happened in between was just cake.

Where?

The Outer Banks of North Carolina. Nothing major, just a few yards from where Black Beard fucked shit up back in the day. A two-hour boat ride from the main land. NC roads through the swamps and along the coast–sand and surf, camp fires and buried trucks. We left Rocky Mount, NC and headed to Ocracoke Island where we camped for the night. The next day we headed for Wilmington to top it all off with an incredible after-party.

Why?

The run was our attempt at running toward that elusive brotherhood mentality that we are all trying to capture on the interweb. A run that embodied the mantra “all for one and one for all.” Just a time to ride bikes and get away from the real world and the internet.

When?

You missed it. But, don’t sweat it we will be back next year–or maybe sooner. All I am saying is Fall, Moonshine, Mountains, Camping with day-rides… Everything else is super-secret right now…

How many riders do you estimate showed up?

We had 82 sign up and 77 showed up to the run

Did everyone finish?

Every single person finished!

How many ended up in chase trucks or whatever?

We only loaded one bike in a chase truck. Mike Tyson's (the REAL people's champ), it was on the first day. Mike was riding a '67 Shovel in a stock early 50's Pan set-up, his clutch was slipping so badly that he couldn't ride. He, Fingers, Aaron and Vander worked on it at the campground and had him back on the road that night. He rode the entire second leg. His bike was only in the truck for about 40 miles of the run...

Who came the farthest, or where was the farthest someone rode from?

Fingers was the one who rode the furthest. He and his wife, Blondie, rode from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, up and back on a rigid powered Evo, about 1700 miles in total. I've got some shots of his bike and he and his lady as well. Fingers was a TRUE HERO, every single time someone broke down he was instrumental in getting them sorted and back on the road–not limited to but including his sanding of clutch plates with sand from the beach.

How did you pick winners for the raffle?

Simple - everyone got a raffle ticket who entered to ride, and more were for sale if people wanted them We. drew four prizes on the beach the first night (we also gave out a prize for longest ridden to Fingers - so 5 total) and the remainder were given out the next night at the after-party. I think we had like 16 total prize packages. We had a ton of swag thanks to everyone's generosity.

How many miles was the run each day? Were they easy putts, or was it a hellride?

The ride was just over 400 total miles and it was pretty evenly split each day.

Many roadside fixes?

A few. My headlights flew off. Trey's Pan wouldn't run at idle. Mike's clutch was slipping so badly he couldn't ride. But they all got sorted...

What percentage were people you had never met in person?

I knew maybe 10 people personally, the rest were either perfect strangers or people whom I had only met online before. So, better than 80 percent were people I had never really met.

Who?

Well that’s a tricky question. You mean the two jack asses that put the run on? That’d be me and Ralph (aka Rusty Knuckles). Or do you mean who made it happen? That’d be everyone who sponsored the event and helped us get the word out, and everyone who went on the run and made it as amazing as it was. Or do you mean who thought of it? That’s trickier still. The idea originated on the Chop Cult–a suggestion was made that someone in NC put a run together. For whatever reason Ralph and I figured we’d take the torch and run with it. That or we were just the suckers that convinced themselves we could make things move.

What?

A run. The Revenge Run. Not a mission but a ride. A chance to do what we all love to do–ride our motorbikes. After all when you’re riding your bike it doesn’t matter if it’s the raddest period-correct mochine or the meekest 250cc screamer. Moving on two wheels is what makes this shit fun. Our idea was to put together a run where we could get together with old friends and meet new ones and ride our bikes, whatever happened in between was just cake.

Where?

The Outer Banks of North Carolina. Nothing major, just a few yards from where Black Beard fucked shit up back in the day. A two-hour boat ride from the main land. NC roads through the swamps and along the coast–sand and surf, camp fires and buried trucks. We left Rocky Mount, NC and headed to Ocracoke Island where we camped for the night. The next day we headed for Wilmington to top it all off with an incredible after-party.

Why?

The run was our attempt at running toward that elusive brotherhood mentality that we are all trying to capture on the interweb. A run that embodied the mantra “all for one and one for all.” Just a time to ride bikes and get away from the real world and the internet.

When?

You missed it. But, don’t sweat it we will be back next year–or maybe sooner. All I am saying is Fall, Moonshine, Mountains, Camping with day-rides… Everything else is super-secret right now…

How many riders do you estimate showed up?

We had 82 sign up and 77 showed up to the run

Did everyone finish?

Every single person finished!

How many ended up in chase trucks or whatever?

We only loaded one bike in a chase truck. Mike Tyson's (the REAL people's champ), it was on the first day. Mike was riding a '67 Shovel in a stock early 50's Pan set-up, his clutch was slipping so badly that he couldn't ride. He, Fingers, Aaron and Vander worked on it at the campground and had him back on the road that night. He rode the entire second leg. His bike was only in the truck for about 40 miles of the run...

Who came the farthest, or where was the farthest someone rode from?

Fingers was the one who rode the furthest. He and his wife, Blondie, rode from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, up and back on a rigid powered Evo, about 1700 miles in total. Fingers was a TRUE HERO, every single time someone broke down he was instrumental in getting them sorted and back on the road–not limited to but including his sanding of clutch plates with sand from the beach.

How did you pick winners for the raffle?

Ralph and I put all the amazing swag together into bundles. We made 4 baller bundles that we gave out (along with the Longest Ridden prize) on the beach at Ocracoke. Amazing helmets from Ryzart and Hell Mutt's, a sick skate deck carved into a tiki by the Hate Factory boys. Parts from BMC and Blings, hand engraved buckles from Chopper Dave's Loud Fast, and more t-shirts and other swag than you could imagine. Everyone who rode the run got a raffle ticket automatically. In the end we got RAD swag from our SPONSORS and gave it out. Just a little chopper love being spread around. We only had the raffle to give back, not to make money, just to let the people on the run feel the love that the sponsors were giving out. I think that a lot of people get the sponsor jam all wrong, it's not for bragging or appearances, the sponsors help get the word out and they are as stoked as the guys on the run for the run to be a success. Not for the dough but for the love of motorcycles–so we gave it away in that spirit.

How many miles was the run each day? Were they easy putts, or was it a hellride?

The ride was just over 400 total miles and it was pretty evenly split each day.

Many roadside fixes?

A few. My headlights flew off. Trey's Pan wouldn't run at idle. Mike's clutch was slipping so badly he couldn't ride. But they all got sorted...

What percentage were people you had never met in person?

Even though I didn't know the majority of the people on the run when it started I made a lot of new friends along the way. Everyone had a great time and everyone on the run had the attitude we wanted–they were all stoked on the adventure of the run and not racing to the end. It was truly an honor to be involved.

Sounds to us like a well-exectued run with good people and good time, bravo!

Keep in touch with the aftermath or whatever's coming next at the Revenge Run blog.

As i jump on the bandwagon of stuff already said....This was truley an Epic ride with no better-than-thou attitudes. Definately on the must do again list... Thanks again Tim and Ralph, and the Peanut City GEEKS for letting me ride along. You guys know what "IT" is...........thx Brandon

Tim and Ralph, As it has already been said over and over again. THANK YOU.......best ride in a long time. Great ride, bikes, entertainment, and made some new friends. Looking forward to whatever is next.

Personally I think we couldn't have pulled it off any better. It was one of the runs where I just didn't want it to end. Every single person on the run had a solid attitude and were the kind of folks I would welcome into my shop or home anytime. See you fuckers soon!!!

i had the time of my life ,in riding for 34 years i never had such a time .i didnt know one person but when i left,i left with new brothers an sissters.tim was a great host opening his home to me an my wife.you wierdos

man I hate I missed it. I'm in the high mountains of N.C. and if you do something else please let me know I'm always in for a good road trip! great article,and great pics! Sounds like great times,and people too! I got to go wash off the green...later